248 THE ORCHID REVIEW. 
out, care being taken to keep a little ball of earth round them, and to 
place them near enough to each other to afford mutual protection. ge: 
“The earth in which Orchids are planted should not be rich, and should — 
contain as little organic matter as possible; if the soil of the garden ts 
too light, good fresh earth must be added. In any case, it is important 
to be sure that the earth has received no dung or other manure, as Orchids — 
much object to it. It is stated that Orchid plants thus raised from seed 
are much more healthy and succeed better than those which are trans 
planted from their natural habitats. Seed-sowing also affords an oppor 
tunity for obtaining new forms and varieties.” : 
Judging by the differences in the methods adopted, success does not 
depend upon the carrying out of every minute detail here described, but 
upon an intelligent adoption of a few general principles, which shall secure 
to the young seedlings similar conditions to those under which they occur 
in Nature. And these are sufficiently varied. Some species are quite at 
home in an ordinary border, or wild garden, if other things are not allowed 
to crowd them out. Some grow in marshy spots, and too much drought 
is fatal to their well-being. Others absolutely refuse to grow unless lime 
is present in the soil. The abundance of some species in certain localities 
affords evidence that seeds germinate pretty freely where their natural 
wants are supplied, and we can only hope that these remarks will induce 
others to pay more attention to these delightful little plants. And now 
that our knowledge of hybridisation has progressed so far, the possibility af 
raising new and distinct forms should not be lost sight of, especially as 
several very distinct natural hybrids occur on the continent of Europe, and 
are not unrepresented in Britain. Here is assuredly a very promising field 
for experiments. 
CALENDAR OF OPERATIONS FOR AUGUST. — 
By W. H. Wuire, Burford, Dorking. 
es tie as the exceptional tropical weather continues there will be 7. 
necessity to use much artificial heat in either division. During the daytime 
~ Proper temperatures are easily maintained by sun-heat alone, but 
although the nights are very mild, it is not advisable to dispense with fire- 
heat altogether. By judiciously regulating the fires and keeping the pipes 
eee warm in the hottest divisions, a freer circulation of air can be main’ 
tained than when none is used. At the same time it will counteract and 
help the plants to send off any superabundance of moisture that may bathe 
accumulated after sunset. Again, during the night, if the houses are to0 : 
damp, just when the temperatures are lower than they should be, the plant” 
